www.nytimes.com/2025/07/17/books/review/new-book-recommendations.html
Great article on Jane Austen
Quiz
Learn so much about: What We Eat
This book will interest those who are very interested in the foods that they eat, be that for personal or more professional reasons. It is very easy to dip in and out of this title which features foods from all the letters of the alphabet, starting with Acheke and ending with Yougurt (right after Yak butter).
Many but not all of these foods were familiar to me. All of the entries were interesting. Take Christmas Pudding for example. Who knew that in 1927 a giant one was made and presented to the Lord Mayor of London? What are all of the ingredients and from whence do they come? Any idea when the term pudding came into regular use in Britain? Ever wonder how it was made in various parts of what was once the British Empire years ago? Curious about Charles Dickens’ contribution? Find the answers in that entry. Readers will want to keep going and learn more. Plus, if you want to know even more, there are suggested resources.
This is a terrific and fun encyclopedia of food. It would make a great gift.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Columbia University Press for this title. All thoughts are my own.
Pub date: 12 August 2025
360 pages
More:
Using food as a lens through which to draw out the economic, cultural, and social changes wrought by globalization, contributors highlight both what’s lost when foods are stripped of their cultural specificity and how cultural exchange can produce creative and beneficial results. Readers will want to dig in. ― Publishers Weekly –This text refers to the paperback edition.
An e book bargain
I had a real reaction to the end of this novel, though no spoilers here. If you read it, or have read it, I’d love your opinion.
“In Jenna, [Jodi] Picoult has created an unforgettable character who will easily endear herself to each and every reader. . . . Leaving Time may be her finest work yet.”—Bookreporter
“[A] captivating and emotional story.”—BookPage
“With plenty of twists and a surprising ending, [Leaving Time] explores the grieving process and what happens when we cannot move on.”—Woman’s Day
“A moving and emotional story.”—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“A truly engaging read . . . Full of the deep characters and multilayered story lines that have earned [Picoult] a spot in many readers’ hearts.”—Library Journal
“Delivers a powerhouse ending.”—Booklist
“Memorable and poignant.”—Publishers Weekly
Kid’s Corner: I Know Scared by Lindsay N. Giroux
#IKnowScared #NetGalley
This book offers an excellent resource for helping children to recognize what they are feeling. It also has suggestions for how to cope with feelings, as for example, anxiety. Young kids are invited to interact with this book when they are asked about their own feelings; they are encouraged to be feeling detectives and to keep a notebook.
Throughout there are cute illustrations. A cat figures in them as do the adults in this child’s life.
I recommend this book as it will help to build children’s emotional intelligence. It also offers a good starting point for important conversations between adults and children. There is even a helpful section for adults.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Teacher Created Materials for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 19 August 2025
36 pages
Now an e book bargain: The Old Success by Martha Grimes
Grimes published a new book in 2025
In this novel, there are three murders. One takes place in the Scilly Islands, one in Exeter Cathedral and one on a family estate. Are they linked, and if they are, what is the connection?
As usual, there are characters who are children and essential to the story. In this case, the reader meets Zillah and Zoe. What did they witness? What is their connection to the bigger mystery surrounding the deaths?
The title of the book comes from the name of a pub, as is usual for Martha Grimes. Those in the pubs are witnesses and friends, including a retired police officer who solved all his cases. There is also his granddaughter who is talented at working with horses. Quite a mix.
Of course, all is solved. I read this book quickly. I rate it at 3 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance read in exchange for an honest review. The book publishes in November.
Awards (with thanks to the Stop You’re Killing Me newsletter)
2025 DAGGER AWARDS PRESENTED
The Dagger Awards, awarded by The Crime Writer’s Association to celebrate the best in crime and thriller writing, were presented on July 6, 2023 in London. Our congratulations to the winners (listed first in each category) and to all of the nominees.
| Diamond Dagger * | Mick Herron |
| Gold Dagger | |
|---|---|
| * | The Book of Secrets by Anna Mazzola |
| ° | A Divine Fury by D.V. Bishop |
| ° | I Died at Fallow Hall by Bonnie Burke-Patel |
| ° | The Bell Tower by R.J. Ellory |
| ° | The Hunter by Tana French [review] |
| ° | Guide Me Home by Attica Locke |
| Ian Fleming Steel Dagger | |
|---|---|
| * | Dark Ride by Lou Berney [review] |
| ° | Nobody’s Hero by M.W. Craven |
| ° | Sanctuary by Garry Disher |
| ° | Hunted by Abir Mukherjee [review] |
| ° | Blood Like Mine by Stuart Neville |
| ° | City in Ruins by Don Winslow |
| First Novel Dagger | |
|---|---|
| * | All Us Sinners by Katy Massey |
| ° | Miss Austen Investigates: The Hapless Milliner by Jessica Bull [review] |
| ° | Knife River by Justine Champine |
| ° | Three Burials by Anders Lustgarten |
| ° | A Curtain Twitcher’s Book of Murder by Gay Marris |
| ° | Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney [review] |
| Historical Dagger | |
|---|---|
| * | The Betrayal of Thomas True by A.J. West |
| ° | A Divine Fury by D.V. Bishop |
| ° | Banquet of Beggars by Chris Lloyd |
| ° | The Book of Secrets by Anna Mazzola |
| ° | Poor Girls by Clare Whitfield |
| Crime Fiction in Translation Dagger | |
|---|---|
| * | The Night of Baba Yaga by Akira Otani |
| ° | Dogs and Wolves by Hervé Le Corre |
| ° | Going to the Dogs by Pierre Lemaître |
| ° | The Clues in the Fjord by Satu Rämö |
| ° | Butter by Asako Yuzuki |
| ° | Clean by Alia Trabucco Zerán |
| Non-Fiction Dagger | |
|---|---|
| * | The Peepshow: The Murders at 10 Rillington Place by Kate Summerscale |
| ° | Unmasking Lucy Letby: The Untold Story of the Killer Nurse by Jonathan Coffey and Judith Moritz |
| ° | The Lady in the Lake: A Reporter’s Memoir of a Murder by Jeremy Craddock |
| ° | Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey |
| ° | The Criminal Mind by Duncan Harding |
| ° | Four Shots in the Night: A True Story of Stakeknife, Murder, and Justice in Northern Ireland by Henry Hemming |
| Short Story | |
| * | “A Date on Yarmouth Pier” by J.C. Bernthal Midsummer Mysteries |
| ° | “The Glorious Twelfth” by S.J. Bennett Midsummer Mysteries |
| ° | “Why Harrogate?” by Janice Hallett Murder in Harrogate |
| ° | “City Without Shadows” by William Burton McCormick Midsummer Mysteries |
| ° | “A Ruby Su” by Meeti Shroff-Shah Midsummer Mysteries |
| ° | “Murder at the Turkish Baths” by Ruth Ware Murder in Harrogate |
| Whodunnit Dagger (cosy crime, traditional mysteries, and Golden Age crime) | |
|---|---|
| * | The Case of the Singer and the Showgirl by Lisa Hall |
| ° | A Death in Diamonds by S.J. Bennett [review] |
| ° | Murder at the Christmas Emporium by Andreina Cordani |
| ° | A Good Place to Hide a Body by Laura Marshall |
| ° | A Matrimonial Murder by Meeti Shroff-Shah |
| ° | Murder at the Matinee by Jamie West |
| Twisted Dagger (psychological and suspense thrillers) | |
|---|---|
| * | Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra [review] |
| ° | Emma, Disappeared by Andrew Hughes |
| ° | Beautiful People by Amanda Jennings |
| ° | The Stranger in Her House by John Marrs |
| ° | The Trials of Marjorie Crowe by C.S. Robertson |
| ° | Look in the Mirror by Catherine Steadman |
The follow up to I am Morgan: Le Fay by Stacey Keetch
Le Fay follows the first in this series. I very much enjoyed that novel and recommend it. Le Fay picks up after the events of I am Morgan and readers watch as Morgan spends time in Camelot (and other locales).
Morgan and Arthur share a deep bond as the story opens. They are half siblings who have the same mother. Morgan is a trusted advisor to the idealistic, yet strong Arthur. Morgan gets along less well with Queen Guinevere who seems jealous of her sister in law and whom, in turn, Morgan does not seem to respect. Neither does Morgan feel any fondness toward Merlin whose influence over Arthur is quite pronounced. How will Morgan fare with these characters in this second in Keetch’s trilogy?
Other characters from the first book are here again including, to name a few, Accolon, Morgan’s son Yvain and the husband from whom she is separated, Morgan’s two closest female attendants and a pageant of others. I was delighted to again spend time with them.
Keetch’s imagination deftly creates the world of Camelot with its physical appearance, events (such as pageants), and the ideals upon which Arthur has endeavored to build his kingdom. She also portrays the crises that Morgan faces.
While this story of Camelot comes from the author’s imagination, it feels real. I loved spending time in this world and think that those who enjoy stories of Morgan, Arthur and those around them will like this one as well. I am eagerly waiting for the third book to see how the story will go.
Many thanks to Random House Canada and NetGalley for this title. All opinions are my own.
Pub date: 16 July 2024
432 pages
Sci Fi & Fantasy
Joyce's mystery and fiction book reviews with some non-fiction too! 